Apple has widened the range of Macs running its T2 security chip. Is macOS finally catching up with other platforms when it comes to secure computing?
When Apple launched its latest MacBook Air last month, one of its more unusual features is that the built-in microphone automatically turns off when the lid is closed.
Apple introduced the feature to eliminate any possibility of malware – or other unwanted applications – using the laptop’s microphone to eavesdrop on users.
The mic shut-off function is written into Mac systems via the security-focused T2 chip, and it’s just the latest use for the T2, which is a powerful piece of security technology that acts as the hardware root of trust for the Mac ecosystem.
The feature made headlines, even though the risk of anyone using a MacBook Air to bug conversations might seem low. But the bigger story is that with the expansion to the Air and other devices in its portfolio, Apple seems to be taking hardware security seriously. And researchers say Macs may finally be catching up to other computing platforms on that score.
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